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Description/Abstract

Background:Small body size at birth and during infancy is associated with an increased risk of adult osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Fetal programming of the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF) axis may provide a mechanism for these epidemiological findings.

Aims:To determine whether measurements of GH and IGF-I in late middle age were related to size at birth and in infancy.

Methods:Overnight urinary GH excretion and fasting serum IGF-I were measured in 309 men and 193 women from Hertfordshire (born 1920–1930) for whom birthweight and weight at 1 year were recorded. Serum IGF-I was measured in men and women from Preston (n = 254, born 1935–1943) and Sheffield (n = 215, born 1939–1940) whose birthweight and other birth measurements were recorded.

Results:Urinary GH and serum IGF-I were not related to birthweight, other measurements at birth, or weight at 1 year.

Conclusion:In contrast to previous studies in children or young adults, these data do not support the hypothesis that IGF-I concentrations are programmed by intra-uterine events, as assessed by birthweight, in late middle age.